Multimillion Dollar Fraud Case Dismissed
LAS VEGAS, NV (February 28, 2006) — On Monday, February 27, 2006, U.S. District Court Judge James Mahan threw out criminal charges against three men, including McDermott Will & Emery client Sean Flanagan, in a multimillion dollar fraud case. Judge Mahan made his decision based on the prosecutors' failure to present evidence as required to the defendants.
After a witness's report of a previously undisclosed plea agreement with the government, the court ordered the government to turn over any remaining similar undisclosed information. The government provided the defendants with over 600 pages of documents detailing plea agreements and prior conviction information for a number of government witnesses despite its earlier claim that all information had been disclosed.
In a 64-count indictment, prosecutors had accused the defendants, who faced 25 years or more in prison if convicted, of various charges including RICO, securities fraud, money laundering and conspiracy. Mr. Flanagan, a Las Vegas attorney, was represented by McDermott partner James L. Sanders of the Firm's Los Angeles office.
McDermott's white-collar criminal defense practice is one of the United States’ largest and most accomplished. The practice consists of more than 30 highly experienced trial lawyers in offices throughout the United States and abroad. Most of our white-collar defense lawyers have served as senior federal prosecutors, an experience which has equipped them with a unique perspective to counsel and advise clients facing criminal investigations or indictments. Our Group includes 16 former senior prosecutors from U.S. Attorney's Offices across the United States and from the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
